Flora

The landscape supports tree and shrub savanna of moderate to high species diversity, including protected Aloe species and other endemics. Much of the area is Acacia hereroensis savanna, with open to semi-open, short bushland with mesic (i.e. typical of moderately moist areas) grassland species, such as Brachiaria serrata, Themeda triandra.

This vegetation type supports a very high diversity of species but is prone to encroachment by Dichrostachys cinerea (Kalahari Christmas tree, sickle bush). The vegetation varies on the slopes and ridges to the riverbeds/streams. Taller acacia trees are quite abundant, specifically in areas associated with rivers.

Acacia mellifera dominates undulating lands; other dominant species are A. hebeclada subsp. hebeclada, Catophractes alexandri (trumpet thorn). Grass species include the common species Stipagrostis uniplumis, Eragrostis nindensis, Microchloa caffra and Monelytrum luederitzianum. A conspicuous part of this vegetation type is the dwarfshrub species Leucosphaera bainsii (wolbos), Ericephalus luederitzianus (kappokbos) and other.  The original grass cover was characterised by climax grasses such as Anthephora pubescens, Brachiaria nigropedata and Digitaria eriantha, amongst others, however, these valuable species have decreased due to poor farming practices such as overgrazing or injudicious selective grazing. Euclea undulata dominates the woody vegetation while an endemic aloe of the Khomas Hochland, Aloe viridiflora, is found in some areas.

» Species list of trees

Relevant literature